This, the first publication to collate a broad international perspective on the pedagogical value of GIS technology in classrooms, offers an unprecedented range of expert views on the subject. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) are now ubiquitous and relatively inexpensive. They have revolutionized the way people explore and understand the world around them. The capability they confer allows us to capture, manage, analyze, and display geographic data in ways that were undreamt of a generation ago. GIS has enabled users to make decisions and solve problems as diverse as designing bus routes, locating new businesses, responding to emergencies, and researching climate change. GIS is also having a major impact in the classroom. Students and teachers around the world are using this significant emerging technology in the secondary school classroom to study social and scientific concepts and processes, to broaden their technical skills, and to engage in problem solving and decision making about local and global issues.International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with GIS in Secondary Schools brings together authors from 34 countries who profile the current status of GIS in secondary school teaching and learning in their country. Each chapter includes a summary of the country’s educational context, a case study illustrating how GIS is used in secondary schooling, and an assessment of the opportunities and challenges in teaching and learning with GIS now and in the future. The book demonstrates that GIS is not only a technological tool to be used in the classroom, but also a catalyst for motivation, encouragement, and cooperation in understanding and solving global problems.

The most up to date and extensive survey of GIS in the secondary education landscape, covering both principles and practice.Professor David Maguire, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University, UK

International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning With GIS in Secondary Schools is a highly relevant, critically important, reflective contribution to the literature, providing strong arguments supporting the inclusion for spatial studies for all in secondary school education. Karl Donert, President, EUROGEO

This is an invaluable and inspirational examination of innovation in geospatial technologies in secondary schools around the world. Each chapter contains practical models for how to integrate powerful tools for spatial analysis into a range of subjects. It will be useful to classroom teachers and administrators seeking pathways to implementation and teacher educators considering how to prepare the next generation to use geospatial technologies.Sarah Witham Bednarz, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning With GIS in Secondary Schools is essential reading for anyone concerned with the vital role that geospatial information technologies must play in 21st Century global education. Through rich international examples, this book provides a clear and powerful overview of vital benefits, converging trends, and shared imperatives that mandate the integration of GIS and GIScience across the educational spectrum.

Lyn Malone

WORLD VIEWS: Spatial Technologies for Education

ESRI Authorized K-12 Trainer

Co-Coordinator, Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance

The most up to date and extensive survey of GIS in the secondary education landscape, covering both principles and practice.

International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning With GIS in Secondary Schools is a highly relevant, critically important, reflective contribution to the literature, providing strong arguments supporting the inclusion for spatial studies for all in secondary school education.

Karl Donert, President, EUROGEO

What do China, Finland, India, Norway, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey and the UK have in common? GIS in the curriculum! Imagine comparing the national curricula of 33 countries spanning every populated continent, and "zooming in" to specific applications of GIS in each country. This book is a significant contribution to the field and the "known world" of GIS education in K-12 settings and beyond, providing the big picture, global insights and recommendations for the future.

Marsha Alibrandi, Fairfield University

This is an invaluable and inspirational examination of innovation in geospatial technologies in secondary schools around the world. Each chapter contains practical models for how to integrate powerful tools for spatial analysis into a range of subjects. It will be useful to classroom teachers and administrators seeking pathways to implementation and teacher educators considering how to prepare the next generation to use geospatial technologies.

Sarah Witham Bednarz, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University

From the reviews:

“An eagerly awaited volume editied by three GIS scholars, the new International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with GIS in Secondary Schools is a comprehensive guide to the current state of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in education globally. This is no small task, and its value to the GIS in education community is as broad as the book's scope. For educators, policy-makers, Geography and Teacher educators, this collection of 67 international contributors, with a foreword by Roger Tomlinson, Canadian "father" of GIS, the book commands an important niche on the library shelf of all geography educators. … this volume is one that certainly deserves to belong on the shelves of geography teachers and teacher educators, science teachers and teacher educators, and instructional technologies teachers and teacher educators. It would be most instructive to school administrators and policy-makers in any state, province, nation or district. With the teaching and learning of GIS in schools now fully in its third decade, an international comparative study such as this is immensely important for the future of geographic education. This compilation is a vital work and should be read by individuals in each school district today as we enter a new landscape of learning and teaching with geospatial technologies.” (Marsha Alibrandi, Review of International Geographical Education Online, Vol. 1 (2), 2011)

“Authors from 33 countries contributed, illustrating how students learn GIS and how instructors teach with GIS around the world. … The book offers evidence that GIS provides a strong geographic framework and critical thinking skills that will serve students well in the future. … The book ends with reflections on the progress made in teaching and learning with GIS over the past 20 years … and recommendations as to what needs to happen to meet the goal of engaging all students in thinking spatially.” (ArcWatch, February, 2012)